Means for cutting kerfs in mining



J. M. CHRISTINE. MEANS FURCUTTING KERFS IN MINING. APPLICATION FILED JAN.14, 1920.

1,404,835, Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- ,4 TTORNEYS J. M. CHRISTINE.

MEANS FOR CUTTING KERFS IN MINING.

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Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

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VE/VTOR ,4 TTORIVEYS [TED STATES JOHN 1W1.v CHRISTINE, OF FORD CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR CUTTING KERFS IN MINING.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J n. 31 1922 Application filed. January 14, 1920. Serial No. 351,314.

To all 20 ham it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oHN M. CHRISTINE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ford City, in the county of Armstrong and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Cutting Kerfs in Mining, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates generally to the mining of minerals, and more particu larly to novel means of cutting kerfs, the means especially having to do with the chain cutters of mining machines.

In so far as the means proposed by my invention are concerned, chains equipped with my improvement may be adapted to practically any type of mining machine now in use.

The primary object of my present invention is the provision of novel means whereby kerfs may be cut for the well known'purpose with more eflicient results along the various lines I will hereinafter specifically mention than can at present he done.

With this general statement in mind, the further objects and the resulting advantages of my invention can be more readilv understood from the following description of the invention in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a mining machine, illustrating in particular its cutter bar and chain,

Figure2 is a side view of a portionof the chain equipped with my improvements,

I Figures 3 to 6 inclusive are sectional views,

more or lessdiagrammatic, illustrating the various steps in the novel method of cutting kerfs as proposed by my invention,

Figures 7 and 8 are partial sections respectively illustrating the operative and inoperative positions of the cleaning cutters at relatively opposite sides of the cutter bar,

Figure 9 is a side view of one of the cham links illustrating a proposed bearing adjustment, A I

Figures 10 and 11 are end views showing modified forms mounting of the cleaning cutters, 4 I I Figure 12 is a sectional view illustrating a guard for the cleaning cutters,

Figure 13 is a perspective view of one of the digging cutters,

gradually widening the slot thus formed by means of cutters successively moved into engagement with the face of the coal at spaced points above and below the dug slot until the full width of the kerf 22 is reached. Thus in Figure 3, the initial slot 20 is shown formed by a: cutter 23 of the type illustrated in detail in Figure 13. This cutter is of a multiple construction, with a central opening 24 and with transverse cutting edges 25 at its several points, the cutter being rotatab-ly mounted so as to rotate in its movement against the face of the coal in order to break out the slot during the successive movement of its several cutting edges against the coal.

In Figure 4 a pair of cutting disks 26 are shown working against the face of the coal at spaced points above and below the original limits of the slot 20 in order to break out portions ofthe coal above and below the original slot and widen the slot to this extent.

The cutters 26, one of which is seen in Figure 14, have central openings 2'? and circular beveled edges 28.

In Figure 5 cutters 29 of-similar types to the cutters 26 are shown wit-h greater spacing between them, and by a comparison of this figure with Figure 6 in which disk cutters 30 appear, it will be noted that each pair of cutters have their cutting edges spaced apart increasing distances until the, full desired width or height of the kerf 22 is reached.

In this way itis obvious the desired results are accomplished by meanswhich are rotated by virtue of their engagement with the coal during their movement across the face thereof in contact therewith, and by virtue thereof'the power required to move the cutters and to effect the desired operation is greatly reduced. I i y By reference to Figure Lwherein I have generally indicated a mining machine at 31, with its cutterbar 32, I have shown the digging cutters 23 and the cleaning cutters 26,29 and 30 rotatably mounted on shafts 33 in connection with the links 3d and 3 ol the chain which as usual extends in endless relation around the cutter bar and is driven counter clockwise, from the machine 31. I V

The links 3& and 35 are alternately closed and open, the open links having side plates, between which the digging cutters 23 are disposed where these cutters occur,

and outwardly beyond which the cleaning cutters 29 are preferably mounted where these cutters occur. The first pair ofcleaning cutters 26 are preferably carried by the closed links 34: and the finishing cutters 30 are also preferably carried by the closed links, the upstanding bearing portions 36 of which as seen in Figure'lO, may either have angular bearings for tie shaltoitthe finishing cutters 30 or, as seen in Figure 11, the bearing portion 36 may have angular shafts 37 on which these cutters 30 are mounted.

It isprcferably, however, that the finish ing cutters 30 be provided with sockets movably engaging ball-shaped enlargnients 38 carried by the bearing portions of. the chain links as seen in Figures 7, 8 and 12, so that they can work to the angular position shown in Figure 7 in their engagement with the coal at one side of the cutter bar and, upon assuming a, parallel position as shown in Figure 8 at the opposite side of the cutter bar danger of dragging against either the top or 0388 01 the kerf is entirely avoided.

In hard coal, shale, or slate, the several cutting disks may, ii desired. be formed as shown in Figure 15, their disk-like form remaining except that'they are divided into an annular series of radial teeth so that their movement into hard material is facilitated and power necessary for such movement is reduced. 1

The relative arrangement of" the several digging and cleaning cutters, including the finishing cutters, in connection with the chain, may be varied practically at will, dependent upon the existing circumstances of use including the degree of hardness ofv the coal-and the presence or absence of harder substances such as shale, slate, and the like.

'ALClIlHStDIQDlZ may also be provided for in connection with the bearing portions 36 of the several links by utilizing rotatably andito thus maintain these disks 30 in horizontal position as in Figure 8 so that as these disks round theouter end of the cutter bar-they are naturally tilted outwardly and away from one another upon engage mentwith the coal" asin Figure 7 It is of course to be understood that a guard rail will be utilized for the purpose set forth upon both the upper and lower surfaces of the cutter bar.

It is thus obvious that in addition to the saving in power required to operate the cutting chain, my invention, substuting as is does rotating cutters for" the usuahcoal grinding and powdering bits, reduces the present frequent abrasion of bits andbreakage to such an extent as to practically eliminate a great amount of time now lostpin frequent changingof bits; Dust and fine coal is reduced to a minimum as through my improved method and means the coal is broken out, taking advantage'of the natural existing lines of fracture of the coal=loed,-i-n order to. produce usable coal from the kerf. The machine proposed by my inventiontakes its power in a uniform manner without the sharp peaks in load when obstructions are encountered, and according to my improved method and means, the machine has no tendency to'either climb or drop nor leave cores in the kerfwhen cutting past shale,-slate and the like. My invention avoids the'heating or cutters due to abrasion, permits ot' a faster rate of cutting to be maintained with less power, less expense of upkeep, and without excessivepower in connection'with either hard coals. shalerslate, and the'like. My invention also practically eliminates sharpening of thecutters, as well as the danger of gas ignition "from overheated bits or sparks, leaves a smooth bottom for shovelis adapted to a rolling bottom, is'instantly reversible, and'is capable of more effective and eflicient use in general than those devices now 'employed,; and with less cost, less danger and greater value to the operator.

It isto be nnderstood'that themethod thus outlined may be employed in connection with rotary cutting disks or w-heels as well as reciprocating bars, with nearly if not equal facility toits use withchain cutters as illustrated. .It is also to beunderstood that any or all of the cutting disks of the chain, as illustrated, may beprovided withfroller or ball bearings if it is so de sired.

1. Theherein-described means for cutting kerfs in mining, which consists of a mining machine cutter chain having a plurality of links, a plurality of rotary cutters mounted thereon with their axes in planes substantially at right angles to the chain, certain of which cutters are of 'disk-like form-with peripheral cutting edges and are vertically spacedin pairs the spacingvbetween tlic disks of said pairs being varied throughout the length of the chain, and the disks of each pair being equi-distantly spaced above and below the longitudinal center of the chain, and certain of which cutters are multi-pointed with transversely disposed cutting edges at their points and are disposed along the longitudinal center of the chain, the cutting points of the last mentioned cutters extending beyond the peripheral edges of the first mentioned cutters in order to come into action against the face of the kerf previous to the contact of the first; mentioned cutters with the face of the ker 2. A cutter chain for mining machines in cluding a plurality of links, and a plurality of rotary cutters mounted in connection with said links, certain of which cutters form slot diggers disposed along the longitudinal center of the chain and are multi-pointed and provided with transverse cutting edges at their points, and certain of which cutters are vertically alined in pairs andgradually increased in spacing as to the cutters of the pairs between slot digging cutters, the cutters of each pair being arranged above and below the longitudinal center of the chain and being of disk-like form with peripheral cutting edges and having inclined surfaces, whereby to dislodge in step by step manner those portions of a kerf between the slot formed by the first cutters and the inclined surfaces of the pairs of cutters of maximum spacing and effect such dislodgment along planes substantially at right angles to the longitudinal movement of the chain.

3. A cutter chain for mining machines including a plurality of links, and a plurality cutters being mounted in vertically spaced relation in pairs of which the cutters of each pair are equi-distantly spaced upon oppo site sides of the longitudinal center of the chain.

4:- A cutter chain for mining machines including a plurality of links, and a pluralitj' of rotary cutters mounted in connection therewith, certain of which cutters are of disk-like form and have a peripheral cutting edge concentric with the axis thereof and one inclined face and one flat face, said outters being vertically spaced in pairs with their inclined faces toward one another.

5. A cutter chain for mining machines having cutter supporting links, and cutters having universal connections with the opposite sides of thellinks whereby to rotate and incline outwardly away from one another upon engagement with the work at the active side of the cutter chain in operation.

6. A cutter chain for mining machines including a plurality of links, and a plurality of cutters mounted'on said links, certain of which are of disk-like form and have peripheral cutting edges and an inclined 

